MXPA00006434A - Holographic ophthalmic lens - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention provides a method for producing a corrective optical lens. The method has the steps of introducing a polymerizable optical material in a mold for an ophthalmic lens, or a holographic recording medium;and exposing the polymerizable material in the mold or the recording medium to electromagnetic waves, wherein the electromagnetic waves form a pattern of interference fringes while polymerizing the polymerizable material or while exposing the recording medium, thereby the pattern is recorded in the lens to form a volume grating structure, thereby forming a volume holographic element, wherein the pattern diffracts light entering said front curve to correct the ametropic conditions when placed on, in or in front of an eye.

Description

HOLOGRAPHIC OFTALMIC LENS The present invention relates to an ophthalmic lens containing a holographic element, and to a method for producing the ophthalmic lens. Ophthalmic lenses, for example contact lenses and infraocular lenses, for correcting ametropia and other adverse vision conditions using the refractive power of optically transparent polymers, are widely available. Ametropia is the term that indicates any condition of visual refractive deterioration of the eye, including myopia, hyperopia, presbyopia, and astigmatism. Because each ametropic condition requires a specific measurement, that is, a specific corrective power, there needs to be a large number of different designs for ophthalmic lenses, in order to accommodate many different visual defects of the eye. For example, only to accommodate different levels of myopic conditions with contact lenses, a range of different single-power contact lenses are produced that have 0 to -10 diopters or even less, in one-quarter diopter increments. The current approach to this accommodation problem is the mass production of ophthalmic lenses for common ametropic conditions, and then fabricate custom ophthalmic lenses for unusual amethropic conditions. However, the current approach does not eliminate the need to design and produce a large number of ophthalmic lenses that have different corrective measures. In addition, the current approach requires a large supply inventory that maintains ophthalmic lens units to be worn by lens manufacturers and practitioners, in order to accommodate a wide variety of different ametropic conditions. Additionally, the design limitations of conventional ophthalmic refractive lenses, which rely on the thickness variations of the lenses to provide different corrective powers, do not allow the design of the ophthalmic lens to be optimized exclusively for the comfort of the lens user. There remains a need for a corrective ophthalmic lens that does not have the drawbacks of the ophthalmic lenses of the prior art, and which can be produced by a simpler production process than conventional ophthalmic lens production processes. In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a flexible method for producing optical lenses, more desirably ophthalmic lenses, having a wide range of different powers to correct various ametropic conditions, and lenses produced by the method. The method for producing an optical lens for correcting an ametropia of an eye includes the steps of introducing a polymerizable optical material into a mold for an ophthalmic lens, exposing the polymerizable material in the mold to electromagnetic waves, wherein. The electromagnetic waves form a modulation pattern of refractive index in the polymerizable material while polymerizing, where the pattern modifies the light entering the lens to correct the ametropic conditions. The term "optical lenses", as used herein, means both ophthalmic lenses and glasses, unless otherwise indicated. Additionally, a method is provided for producing an optical lens to correct ametropic conditions, which method includes the steps of exposing a holographic recording medium to electromagnetic waves, wherein the electromographic waves form a permanent pattern of refractive index modulation, and the The pattern is designed to diffract light entering the lens at least to partially correct ametropia, reveal the exposed holographic recording medium, and encapsulate the disclosed recording medium in a biocompatible optical material, thereby forming the optical lens. The lenses produced by the methods of the present invention provide corrective potencies for different ametropic conditions, including myopia, hyperopia, presbyopia, and combinations thereof, and the lenses are designed to be used on, in, or in front of a mammalian eye, more particularly a human eye. Additionally, the lens can be programmed to provide a wide variety of corrective powers, for example between +10 diopters and -20 diopters, without changing the dimensions, e.g., the thickness, of the lens.

Figure 1 illustrates a corrective ophthalmic lens of the present invention. Figure 2 illustrates a method for producing a volume holographic optical element of the present invention. Figures 3-3B illustrate a holographic optical element in combination.

The present invention provides a method for producing ophthalmic lenses and lenses produced by the method. The method is highly flexible, so that a wide range of lenses having many different corrective powers and corrective power combinations can be produced, and the lenses produced by the method are highly suitable for correcting different ametropic conditions. The exemplary ametropic conditions that can be corrected with the present lens include myopia, hyperopia, presbyopia, regular and irregular astigmatisms, and combinations thereof. According to the present invention, the corrective ophthalmic lens is produced by programming a corrective power in an optical lens material, and not by varying the dimensions of the lens, although the dimensions of the lens can be varied to provide additional or complementary power. Unlike conventional corrective ophthalmic lenses, the ophthalmic lens of the present invention does not bear, or substantially does not support, changes in dimensions, for example, the thickness of the optic zone, of an ophthalmic lens, to correct the ametrópicas conditions. Accordingly, a lens design which maximizes the comfort of the lens user can be used to correct many different ametropic conditions, without dimensional design limitations of conventional refractive lenses. The ophthalmic lens of the present invention uses the diffraction property of a holographic optical element (HOE), more particularly a holographic optical element in transmission volume, to provide a corrective power. The holographic optical element in volume of the present invention contains patterns of interference fringes which are programmed or recorded as a periodic variation in the refractive index of the optical material. The periodic variation in the refractive index creates planes of peak refractive index, ie grid structure in volume, inside the optical element. The grid structure in volume diffracts the light entering the holographic optical element, and consequently, the path of the light is modified, and redirected in a desired direction. Figure 1 illustrates the present invention with a corrective ophthalmic lens 10 for hyperopia. The lens 10 is a holographic optical element having a pattern of interference fringes 12. The pattern of interference fringes 12 directs the light 14, which enters the lens 10 from one side, to focus on a focal point 16, which is located on the other side of the lens 10. In accordance with the present invention, the input light 14 is preferably diffracted by more than one interference strip 12, and redirected to the focal point 16. An example process for producing a holographic optical element of the present invention is illustrated in Figure 2. The holographic optical elements suitable for the present invention can be produced, for example, from polymerizable or crosslinkable optical materials, and photographic hologram recording means. Suitable optical materials are discussed further below. Hereinafter, for purposes of illustration, the term "polymerizable materials" is used to indicate both polymerizable materials and crosslinkable materials, unless otherwise indicated. The light object of the point source 20 is projected towards a photopolymerizable optical material (ie, the photopolymerizable holographic optical element) 22, and the collimated reference light 24 projects simultaneously towards the photopolymerizable holographic optical element 22., such that the electromagnetic waves of the subject light 20 and the reference light 24 form patterns of interference fringes, which are recorded in the polymerizable optical material as it polymerizes. The photopolymerizable holographic optical element 22 is a photopolymerizable material that is polymerized by both the object light and the reference light. Preferably, the object light and the reference light are produced from a collimated light source, using a beam splitter. The two divided portions of the light are projected onto the holographic optical element 22, wherein the path of the light portion object of the divided light is modified to form a point source light 24. The light source point source 24 it is provided, for example, by placing a conventional convex optical lens at some distance from the photopolymerizable holographic optical element 22, such that a portion of the divided light is focused over a desirable distance from the holographic optical element 22, i.e. the position of the point source light 20 of Figure 2. A preferred light source is a laser source, and an ultraviolet laser source is more preferred. Although the appropriate wavelength of the light source depends on the type of holographic optical element employed, the preferred wavelength ranges are between 300 nanometers and 600 nanometers. When the photopolymerizable holographic optical element 22 is fully exposed and polymerized, the resulting holographic optical element contains a registered pattern of interference fringes (ie, grid structure in volume 26). The polymerized holographic optical element 22 has a focal point 20 corresponding to the position of the light object of point source 20 when the light enters the holographic optical element from the opposite side of the focal point. According to the present invention, the power of the ophthalmic lens can be changed, for example, by changing the distance and position of the target light 20. Figure 2 provides an example method for producing a holographic optical element having a corrective power positive. As can be appreciated, optical-holographic elements having a negative corrective power can also be produced with the production establishment of holographic optical elements described above, with some modifications. For example, a convergent object light source that forms a focal point on the other side of the holographic optical element from the light source, instead of the point source light, can be used to produce a holographic optical element having a negative corrective power. In a similar way, other correction needs can be accommodated by changing the configuration or pattern of the object and reference light sources, for example, the holographic optical element can be programmed to take corrective measures for the unequal and distorted corneal curvature of the an irregular astigmatic condition, specifically designing the configurations of the object light and the reference light. As discussed above, suitable holographic optical elements can be produced from polymerizable or crosslinkable optical materials that can be light-cured or photo-reticularized in a relatively fast manner. A rapidly polymerizable optical material allows a modulation of the refractive index to be formed within the optical material, thereby forming the grid structure in volume, while polymerizing the material to form a solid optical material. Exemplary polymerizable optical materials suitable for the present invention are disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 5,508,317 to Beat Müller, and in International Patent Application Number PCT / EP96 / 00246 to Mühlebach, whose patent and application of the patent are incorporated herein by reference, and are discussed further below. A preferred group of polymerizable optical materials, as described in U.S. Patent No. 5,508,317, are those that comprise a basic structure of 1,3-diol, wherein a certain percentage of the units of 1 have been modified, 3-diol to 1,3-dioxane, which have in the 2-position a radical which is polymerizable but does not polymerize. The polymerizable optical material is preferably a derivative of a polyvinyl alcohol having a weight-average molecular weight, Mw, of at least about 2,000 which, based on the number of polyvinyl alcohol hydroxyl groups, comprises about 0.5 percent by weight. approximately 80 percent of units of formula I: wherein: R is lower alkylene having up to 8 carbon atoms, R1 is hydrogen or lower alkyl, and R2 is an olefinically unsaturated copolymerizable electron attracting radical, preferably having up to 25 carbon atoms. R2 is, for example, an olefinically unsaturated acyl radical of the formula R3-CO-, wherein: R3 is an olefinically unsaturated copolymerizable radical having from 2 to 24 carbon atoms, preferably from 2 to 8 carbon atoms, especially preferably from 2 to 4 carbon atoms. In another embodiment, the radical R2 is a radical of the formula II: -CO-NH- (R -NH-CO-0) "- R5-0-CO-R3 (II) where: q is 0 or 1; R4 and R5 are each independently lower alkylene having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms, arylene having from 6 to 12 carbon atoms, a saturated divalent cycloaliphatic group having from 6 to 10 carbon atoms, arylalkylene or alkylenearylene having from 7 to 14 carbon atoms, or arylenenalkylenearylene having from 13 to 16 carbon atoms; and R3 is as defined above. R as lower alkylene preferably has up to 8 carbon atoms, and can be straight or branched chain. Suitable examples include octylene, hexylene, pentylene, butylene, propylene, ethylene, methylene, 2-propylene, 2-butylene, and 3 -pentylene. Preferably, R as lower alkylene has up to 6, and especially preferably up to 4 carbon atoms. Methylene and butylene are especially preferred. R1 is preferably hydrogen, or lower alkyl having up to 7, especially up to 4 carbon atoms, especially hydrogen. As for R4 and R5, R4 or R5 as lower alkylene preferably have from 2 to 6 carbon atoms, and are especially straight chain. Suitable examples include propylene, butylene, hexylene, dimethylethylene, and especially preferably ethylene. R 4 or R 5 as arylene are preferably phenylene which is unsubstituted or substituted by lower alkyl or lower alkoxy, especially 1,3-phenylene or 1,4-phenylene or methyl-1,4-phenylene. R4 or R5 as a saturated divalent cycloaliphatic group preferably are cyclohexylene or lower cyclohexylenealkylene, for example cyclohexylenemethylene, which is unsubstituted or is substituted by one or more methyl groups, such as, for example, trimethylenecyclohexylenemethylene, for example the divalent isophorone radical . The arylene alkylene or arylene alkylene unit in R4 or R5 is preferably phenylene, unsubstituted or substituted by lower alkyl or lower alkoxy, and its alkylene unit is preferably lower alkylene, such as methylene or ethylene, especially methylene. Accordingly, the radicals R4 or R5 are preferably phenylenemethylene or methylenephenylene. R 4 or R 5 as arylenenalkylene arylene are preferably lower phenylene-alkylene-phenylene having up to 4 carbon atoms in the alkylene unit, for example phenylene-ethylene-phenylene. The radicals R4 and R5 are each independently preferably lower alkylene having from 2 to 6 carbon atoms, phenylene, unsubstituted or substituted by lower alkyl, cyclohexylene, or lower cyclohexylenealkylene, unsubstituted or substituted by lower alkyl, lower phenylene alkylene, lower alkylene phenylene, or phenylalkylene-phenylene. The polymerizable optical materials of the formula I can be produced, for example, by the reaction of a polyvinyl alcohol with a compound III: R 'R "I I O O, R * R-N. (? D ^ wherein R, R1, and R2 are as defined above, and R 'and R "are each independently hydrogen, lower alkyl, or lower alkanoyl, such as acetyl or propionyl Desirably, between 0.5 and about 80 percent of the hydroxyl groups of the resulting polymerizable optical material are replaced by compound III Another exemplary polymerizable optical material suitable for the present invention is disclosed in International Patent Application Number PCT / EP96 / 00246 to Mühlebach. Suitable optical materials disclosed therein include derivatives of a polyvinyl alcohol, polyethyleneimine, or polyvinylamine, which contains from about 0.5 to about 80 percent, based on the number of hydroxyl groups in polyvinyl alcohol, or in the number of imine or amine groups in polyethylene imine or polyvinylamine, respectively, of units of formulas IV and V: wherein Ri and R2 are, independently of one another, hydrogen, an alkyl group of 1 to 8 carbon atoms, an aryl group, or a cyclohexyl group, wherein these groups are unsubstituted or substituted; R3 is hydrogen or an alkyl group of 1 to 8 carbon atoms, and is preferably methyl; and R4 is a bridge -O- or -NH-, and is preferably -O-. Polyvinyl alcohols, polyethylene imines, and polyvinylamines suitable for the present invention, have a number average molecular weight between about 2,000 and 1,000,000, preferably between 10,000 and 300,000, more preferably between 10,000 and 100,000, and most preferably between 10,000 and 50,000 . A particularly suitable polymerizable optical material is a water-soluble derivative of a polyvinyl alcohol having between about 0.5 and about 80 percent, preferably between about 1 and about 25 percent, more preferably between about 1.5 and about 12 percent, based on the number of hydroxyl groups in polyvinyl alcohol, of formula III, which has methyl groups for Ri and R2, hydrogen for R3, -O- (ie, an ester bond) for R. The polymerizable optical materials of formulas IV and V can be produced, for example, by the reaction of an azalactone of formula VI: wherein Ri, R2, and R3 are as defined above, with a polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene imine, or polyvinylamine, at elevated temperature, between about 55 ° C and 75 ° C, in a suitable organic solvent, optionally in the presence of a suitable catalyst. Suitable solvents are those which dissolve the base structure of the polymer, and include polar aprotic solvents, for example formamide, dimethylformamide, hexamethylphosphoric triamide, dimethyl sulfoxide, pyridine, nitromethane, acetonitrile, nitrobenzene, chlorobenzene, trichloromethane, and dioxane. The suitable catalyst includes tertiary amines, for example triethylamine, and organotin salts, for example dibutyltin dilaurate. Another group of holographic optical elements suitable for the present invention can be produced from the recording medium of the holographic optical element in conventional transmission volume. As with the above-described polymerizable material, the spot source light and the collimated reference light are projected simultaneously onto a holographic optical element recording medium, such that the electromagnetic waves of the object and reference light form patterns of interference fringes. The pattern of interference fringes is recorded in the middle of the holographic optical element. When the recording medium of the holographic optical element is fully exposed, the medium of the registered holographic optical element is revealed according to a known holographic optical element development method. The revealed holographic optical element has a focal point corresponding to the location of the light object of the point source. Means for recording suitable holographic optical elements in transmission volume include commercially available holographic photographic recording materials or plates, such as dichromatic gelatins. Holographic photography recording media is available from different manufacturers, including Polaroid Corp. When using photographic recording media for the optical holographic ophthalmic lens element, however, the presence of the toxicological effects of the medium on the medium should be considered. ocular environment. Accordingly, when a conventional photographic holographic optical element means is used, it is preferred that the holographic optical element is encapsulated in a biocompatible optical material. Suitable biocompatible optical materials include polymeric and non-polymeric optical materials that are useful for producing contact lenses, for example hard lenses, rigid gas permeable lenses, and hydrogel lenses. Hydrogel materials suitable for hydrogel contact lenses typically have a crosslinked hydrophilic network, and contain between about 35 percent and about 75 percent, based on the total weight of the hydrogel material, of water. Examples of suitable hydrogel materials include copolymers having 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate and one or more comonomers, such as 2-hydroxy acrylate, ethyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, vinylpyrrolidone, N-vinylacrylamide, hydroxypropyl methacrylate, isobutyl methacrylate. , styrene, ethoxyethyl methacrylate, methoxytriethylene glycol methacrylate, glycidyl methacrylate, diacetone acrylamide, vinyl acetate, acrylamide, hydroxytrimethylene acrylate, methoxymethyl methacrylate, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, glyceryl ethacrylate, and dimethylaminoethyl acrylate. Other suitable hydrogel materials include copolymers having methyl vinylcarbazole, or dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate. Another group of suitable hydrogel materials include the crosslinkable materials disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 5,508,317, issued to Beat Müller, discussed above. Still another group of highly suitable hydrogel materials include silicone copolymers disclosed in International Patent Application Number PCT / EP96 / 01265. Rigid gas-permeable materials suitable for the present invention include cross-linked siloxane polymers. The network of these polymers incorporates appropriate crosslinking agents, such as N, N-dimethylbisacrylamide, ethylene glycol diacrylate, trihydroxypropane triacrylate, pentaerythritol tetra-acrylate, and other similar polyfunctional acrylates or methacrylates, or vinyl compounds, for example, N-methylaminodivinylcarbazole . Suitable rigid materials include acrylates, for example methacrylates, diacrylates, and dimethacrylates, pyrrolidones, styrenes, amides, acrylamides, carbonates, vinyls, acrylonitriles, nitriles, sulfones, and the like. Of the suitable materials, hydrogel materials are particularly suitable for the present invention. An encapsulated ophthalmic lens of the present invention, containing a photographic holographic optical element, can be produced by manufacturing a holographic optical element containing a grid structure in volume according to the present invention, the holographic optical element of which preferably has a thin sheet or shell shape or shell; placing the holographic optical element in a biocompatible optical material; and then polymerizing the biocompatible optical material to form an encapsulated composite lens. The encapsulation and polymerization steps can be conducted in a lens mold, such that a fully formed composite lens is produced. As another embodiment, a button or block of a composite material containing the holographic optical element is formed, and then configured to form an ophthalmic lens using a lathe apparatus. As yet another embodiment, two layers of a polymerized biocompatible optical material can be laminated on both sides of a holographic optical element containing a grid structure in bulk, to form a composite ophthalmic lens of the present invention. In accordance with the present invention, suitable holographic optical elements preferably have a diffraction efficiency of at least about 75 percent, more preferably at least about 80 percent, and most preferably at least 95 percent, over all or substantially all wavelengths within the visible light spectrum. The holographic optical elements especially suitable for the present invention have a diffraction efficiency of 100 percent over all wavelengths of the visible light spectrum, when the Bragg condition is satisfied. The Bragg condition is well known in the optical art, and is defined, for example, in Wave Theory for Thick Hologram Gratings, by H. Kogelnik, The Bell System Technical Journal, volume 48, number 9, page 2909-2947 (November 1969). The description of the Bragg condition disclosed therein is incorporated by reference. Holographic optical elements having a lower diffraction efficiency than that specified above can also be used for the present invention. The holographic optical elements suitable for the present invention are preferably holographic optical elements in combination of multiple layers having at least two layers of holographic optical elements, because the layering of thin holographic optical elements improves the diffraction efficiency and the optical quality of the holographic optical element, and makes it possible to reduce the thickness of the holographic optical element. As known in the ophthalmic art, an ophthalmic lens must have a thin dimensional thickness to promote comfort of the lens user. According to the above, a dimensionally thin holographic optical element is preferred for the present invention. However, in order to provide a holographic optical element having a high diffraction efficiency, the holographic optical element has to be optically thick, that is, the light is diffracted by more than one plane of the pattern of interference fringes. One way to provide an optically thick and dimensionally thin optical holographic optical element is to program the pattern of interference fringes in a direction that is inclined towards the length of the holographic optical element. This grid structure in inclined volume causes the holographic optical element to have a large angular deviation between the incident angle of the entrance light, and the exit angle of the exit light. However, a holographic optical element having a large angular deviation may not be particularly suitable for an ophthalmic lens. For example, when this holographic optical element is placed in the eye, the line of sight deviates significantly from the normal line of vision of the eye. As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, this angular limitation in the design of a holographic optical element is solved using a holographic optical element in combination of multiple layers, especially a holographic optical element in two layers. Figure 3 illustrates a holographic optical element in example combination 40 of the present invention. Two dimensionally thin holographic optical elements are fabricated having a large angular deviation in a holographic optical element in combination, to provide a dimensionally thin holographic optical element, having a small angular deviation. The multi-layered holographic optical element 40 has a first dimensionally thin holographic optical element 42, and a second thin holographic optical element 44. The first holographic optical element 42 is programmed to diffract to input light, such that, when the light to the holographic optical element at an alpha angle, the light exiting the holographic optical element 42 forms an acute exit angle ß, which is greater than the incident angle a, as shown in Figure 3A. Preferably, the first holographic optical element has a thickness between about 10 microns and about 100 microns, more preferably between about 20 microns and about 90 microns, and most preferably between about 30 microns and about 50 microns. The second holographic optical element 44, FIG. 3B, is programmed to have an incident incident angle ß that matches the output angle ß of the first holographic optical element 42. In addition, the second holographic optical element 44 is programmed to focus on the light of entry into focal point 46 when the light enters the activating angle ß. Figure 3B illustrates the second holographic optical element 44. Preferably, the second holographic optical element has a thickness of between about 10 microns and about 100 microns, more preferably between about 20 microns and about 90 microns, and most preferably between about 30 microns and approximately 50 microns. When the first holographic optical element 42 is placed next to the second holographic optical element 44, and the input light enters the first holographic optical element 42 at an angle corresponding to the angle, the path of the light exiting the holographic optical element in combination 40 is modified, and the light is focused on the focal point 46. By utilizing a holographic optical element in combination of multiple layers, a dimensionally thin holographic optical element having a high diffraction efficiency and a small deviation can be produced angular. In addition to the advantages of high diffraction efficiency and small angular deviation, the use of a holographic optical element in multiple layers provides additional advantages, which include correction of scattering aberration and chromatic aberration. A single holographic optical element can produce images that have scattering and chromatic aberrations, because the visual light consists of a thickness of electromagnetic waves that have different wavelengths, and the differences in the wavelengths can cause the electromagnetic waves they are diffracted in a different way by the holographic optical element. It has been found that a holographic optical element in multiple layers, especially in two layers, can counteract and correct these aberrations that can be produced by a single-layer holographic optical element. According to the above, a holographic optical element in combination of multiple layers is preferred. The ophthalmic lens production method of the present invention is a highly flexible method that can be used to produce ophthalmic lenses having a wide range of corrective powers, and which produces ophthalmic lenses that are designed to promote the comfort of the wearer of the lens. Unlike conventional ophthalmic lenses, the power or correction powers of the present ophthalmic lens, provides the power or corrective powers by programming adequate powers in the lens, even without the need to change the dimensions of the lens. In addition, the manufacturing facility does not have to be changed in a substantial manner when the establishment is changed to produce lenses having different corrective powers. As discussed above, different corrective powers can be programmed in the ophthalmic lens, for example, by changing the distance, the pattern, and / or the configuration of the object light and the reference light. According to the above, the lens production process is greatly simplified. Additional advantages include the fact that manufacturers of ophthalmic lenses do not need to have different equipment and lens manufacturing methods to produce a wide range of different lenses that have different corrective powers. Accordingly, manufacturers of ophthalmic lenses do not need to produce and carry a large number of different ophthalmic lenses having different configurations and / or dimensions. It should be noted that, although the present invention is described in conjunction with ophthalmic lenses, corrective glasses having a holographic optical element in volume according to the present invention can be produced. For example, a dimensionally thin film of a holographic optical element, which is programmed to provide a corrective power, can be laminated on a planar telescope. These spectacle lenses, ie glasses, can be designed to promote user comfort without sacrificing the corrective efficacy of the lenses, because the lens of the corrective holographic optical element does not rest on the lens thickness to provide the power corrective, as discussed above. The present invention is further illustrated with the following example. However, the example should not be construed as limiting the invention to it.

EXAMPLE Approximately 0.06 milliliters of the Nelfilcon A lens monomer composition are deposited in the central portion of a female mold half, and a male coupling mold half is placed on the female mold half, forming a lens mold assembly. . The lens mold is designed to produce a flat lens. The male mold half does not touch the female mold half, and they are separated by approximately 0.1 millimeters. The lens mold halves are made of quartz, and are framed with chrome, except for the central circular portion of the lens approximately 15 millimeters in diameter. Briefly, Nelfilcon A is a product of a crosslinkable modified polyvinyl alcohol containing approximately 0.48 millimoles / gram of an acrylamide crosslinker. Polyvinyl alcohol has approximately 7.5 mole percent acetate content. Nelfilcon A has a solids content of about 31 percent, and contains approximately 0.1 percent of a photoinitiator, Durocure® 1173. The closed lens mold assembly is placed under a laser device. The laser apparatus provides two coherent collimated ultraviolet laser beams having a wavelength of 351 nanometers, wherein a beam is passed through an optical convex lens, such that the focal point is formed at 500 millimeters from the lens mold assembly. The focused light serves as a light source point object. The angle formed between the trajectories of the object light and the reference light is approximately 7 °. The apparatus provides a holographic optical element that is programmed to have a corrective power of 2 diopters. The lens monomer composition is exposed to laser beams having approximately 0.2 watts for about 2 minutes, to fully polymerize the composition, and to form interference fringe patterns. Because the lens mold is masked, except for the central portion, the lens monomer exposed in the circular center portion of the mold is subjected to the subject light and the reference light, and polymerized. The mold assembly opens, leaving the lens attached to the male mold half. Again approximately 0.06 milliliters of monomeric composition for Nelfilcon A lenses are deposited in the central portion of the female mold half, and the male mold half is placed with the lens adhered on the female mold half. The male and female mold halves are separated by approximately 0.2 millimeters. The closed mold assembly is again exposed to the laser apparatus, except that the optical convex lens of the apparatus is removed from the object light. The monomeric composition is again exposed to the laser beams for about 2 minutes, to completely polymerize the composition, and to form a second layer of interference fringe patterns. The resulting composite lens has an optical power of +2 diopters.

Claims (24)

1. A method for producing an optical lens for correcting ametropic conditions, this lens having a front curve and a base curve, which method comprises the steps of: a) introducing a polymerizable optical material into a mold for an optical lens; and b) exposing the polymerizable material in the mold to electromagnetic waves, wherein these electromagnetic waves form a pattern of interference fringes, while the polymerizable material is polymerized, and in this way the pattern is recorded in the lens to form a structure of grid in volume, thus forming a holographic element in volume, where this pattern diffracts the light entering the frontal curve, to correct atrophic conditions, when placed on, in, or in front of an eye.

The method of claim 1, wherein this method further comprises the steps of providing an additional layer of polymerizable optical material, and exposing this polymerizable material to electromagnetic waves, such that the lens forms a holographic element in volume in combination .

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic waves are laser beams.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the laser elements are ultraviolet laser beams.

The method of claim 1, wherein this method is adapted to produce an ophthalmic lens.

6. A lens produced with the method of claim 1.

7. A flexible method for producing an optical lens having a corrective power, which comprises the steps of: a) introducing a polymerizable optical material into a mold for an optical lens; and b) exposing the polymerizable material in the mold to a pattern of electromagnetic waves, polymerizing the electromagnetic waves to the optical material, and imparting this pattern a grid structure in volume in the ophthalmic lens as it is being polymerized, thereby forming a holographic element in volume, wherein the grid structure in volume is adapted to provide the corrective power of the optical lens, when the optical lens is placed on, in, or in front of the eye of a mammal.

The method of claim 7, wherein this method further comprises the steps of providing an additional layer of polymerizable optical material, and exposing this polymerizable material to electromagnetic waves, such that the lens forms a holographic element in volume in combination .

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the electromagnetic waves are laser beams.

The method of claim 9, wherein the laser means are ultraviolet laser beams.

The method of claim 7, wherein this method is adapted to produce an ophthalmic lens.

12. A lens produced with the method of claim 7.

13. A method for producing an ophthalmic lens to correct ametropic conditions, this lens having a front curve and a base curve, which method comprises the steps of: a) exposing a medium from holographic recording to electromagnetic waves, where these electromagnetic waves form a pattern of interference fringes of a grid structure in volume, and this pattern is designed to diffract the light entering the frontal curve, to correct at least partially the conditions ametrópicas. b) revealing the exposed holographic recording medium, and c) encapsulating the disclosed recording medium in a biocompatible optical material, thereby forming the optical lens.

The method of claim 13, wherein this method further comprises the step of providing an additional layer of an exposed holographic recording medium, such that this recording means forms a holographic volume element in combination.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the electromagnetic waves are laser beams.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the laser means are ultraviolet laser beams.

17. The method of claim 13, where this method is adapted to produce an ophthalmic lens.

18. A lens produced with the method of claim 13.

19. A method for producing an ophthalmic lens for correcting ametropic conditions of an eye, this lens having a front curve and a base curve, which method comprises the steps of: a) introducing a polymerizable optical material into a mold for an optical lens; and b) exposing the polymerizable material in the mold to electromagnetic waves, wherein these electromagnetic waves form a pattern of interference fringes, while the polymerizable material is polymerized, and in this way a grid structure is formed in volume in the lens, where this pattern modifies the light that enters the lens to correct the atrophic conditions.

The method of claim 19, wherein the grid structure in volume forms a holographic element in volume, and the method further comprises the steps of providing an additional layer of polymerizable optical material, and exposing this polymerizable material to electromagnetic waves, in such a way that the lens forms a holographic element in volume in combination.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the electromagnetic waves are laser beams.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the laser means are ultraviolet laser beams.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein this method is adapted to produce an ophthalmic lens.

24. A lens produced with the method of claim 19.